When I first started selling my work, my jewelry display was quite elaborate.
I thought my booth looked wonderful – although in hindsight, now I think it was actually too fussy looking.
It took several boxes and plastic tubs to store and transport my jewelry and all of my displays – and even when I worked as fast as I could, it took over two hours to set up my display at shows and jewelry parties.
It also took forever to take down afterward, and at most venues I was always the last exhibitor to leave.
My elaborate display nearly made me decide that selling jewelry was too much effort!
So with each event I did, I started coming up with ways to make everything more compact, multi-purpose, streamlined, and fast.
One of the principles that guided my evolving jewelry display system was that I wanted to store all of my jewelry right on the displays.
That would not only take up a lot less space in my closet, but it would also eliminate a huge part of the setup and takedown time at shows.
So little by little, I evolved to my current jewelry display system – which I can set up completely in 30 minutes.
See photos and descriptions of how all of my jewelry display elements work together:
- the jewelry trays that store and display my work,
- the cheap and simple display risers I use to elevate my trays off the tabletop,
- the jewelry carrying cases I use to store and transport all of my loaded displays,
- my jewelry display booth lights that illuminate my work,
- my cheap, simple, stackable booth signs,
- the portable aluminum jewelry display tables that fold up quite small for storage,
- and finally, how all the elements of my jewelry show display work together for a fast booth setup time of about 30 minutes.
If your jewelry display takes so much time to set up that you’re too exhausted to sell your jewelry, I highly recommend that you start finding ways to streamline and things you can eliminate.
It’s made a huge difference for me – and I find that I sell more jewelry at shows now.
I think it’s partly because my new jewelry display does a great job of showcasing my work without stealing the spotlight from it.
But it’s also because I’ve saved my energy for selling jewelry – instead of wasting energy on setting up for the show.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
What a fantastic display system! I am going to have to try something similar because my current display takes *forever* to set up and break down (and I am still not even completely happy will how it looks)!
Thank you for another valuable tip!
Rachel
I saw a posting on this site a while back, with a picture of a jeweler’s handmade necklace display – a cardboard cut-out of a lady from a 19th century painting. I took that idea and ran with it. At my last show, I had almost life-sized cut-outs(chest and up) of Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, and Elizabeth Taylor, all wearing my jewelry, of course! I did them in black and white, for a vintage look, and to highlight the jewelry, which was brightly colored. They were a real eye catcher. I got alot of compliments on my display, which also included a large vintage mirror I got at a thrift shop.
If I could see a way to include a picture here, I would.
@Rachel,
Thanks so much for your kind feedback! I think you’ll really enjoy having a faster, more streamlined display system.
For me, it’s made a world of difference in how I feel about doing shows – and in how I feel when I get home from them too!
Best of luck with yours.
@Jane,
What a great idea!
I think the original project you mentioned is Carolina Gonzalez’s How to Make a Necklace Bust.
I’ve sent you an email.
)
I’m certainly jealous. One reason I quit all the craft shows was the time and hours of set-up. But at the time when I was starting out, it was all hand-made, so quite inexpensive. I like the whole streamlining thing, though. Now I could take it all in my coupe out-fo-state if I wanted to!
Thanks!
http://www.matthewweld.com
http://www.matthewweld.blogspot.com
Thanks for a great article on displays.